25 April (The Killid Group) – Following the NATO’s call on the Taliban to reduce violence and on the Afghan government to end a political deadlock rooted from last year’s presidential elections, the U.S. special envoy has welcomed NATO’s statement and called the demands necessary for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“Welcome NATO’s statement today focused on key next steps the alliance judges are necessary for peace and stability in Afghanistan,” said U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation on his Twitter page, adding that “They [NATO] reiterated the need for a humanitarian ceasefire to help manage COVID-19 outbreaks, urged the Taliban to reduce violence, called on the Afghan govt to end the political crisis, and said all sides should move more quickly on prisoner releases.”
The U.S. envoy added that the demands for a truce, ending the political impasse between the Afghan leaders, and the move for prisoner swap are necessary for peace in Afghanistan and will determine the fate of the country.
“How urgently and with what conviction the sides respond to these steps will determine whether Afghanistan moves forward or remains mired in war, poverty, and disease,” said Dr. Khalilzad on his Twitter post.
He further added that the U.S.-Taliban peace pact has provided a “historic opportunity” in Afghanistan, and thus the United States and its allies urge the Afghan leaders to put the country and the Afghan people’s interests first.
The U.S. envoy’s remarks came as recently the insurgent group has dismissed the Afghan government’s demand for a ceasefire, calling it irrational.
According to the armed group, the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement would pave the way for nation-wide truce as well as a lasting peace in Afghanistan, but the Afghan government has put obstacles in the way and has breached the peace accord.
In the meantime, a political standoff between the Afghan rivals has also hit the headlines and has stalled the peace process, and thus, the NATO and the U.S. officials have urged the leaders to end the turmoil.
Mohammad Ashraf Ghani was declared the winner of a disputed election on February and was inaugurated on March 9. while his opponent, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, also declared himself winner and held a dual inauguration, on the same day.
Follow TKG on Twitter & Facebook
